OUR STORES
What kind of stores are you? Do you carry anything other than books?
We are a large, general book and media store. We carry primarily used items, but we do have thousands of new items at a discount, as well. We have a wide selection of the following items:
- Books, magazines, comics
- Music on CD’s, casettes, LP records
- Audio Books on casettes and CDs
- Films on DVD’s, VHS tapes and Laser discs
- Console Games, software and video games for Macs, Windows and Linux/Unix
- Journals, postcards, blank cards, bookmarks, magnets
- Art & Photography Prints
- Calendars (all year long)
Do you have any specialty areas?
As a general bookstore we carry titles in nearly every imaginable subject area. We have especially strong offerings in:
- Children’s literature and home schooling materials
- Cooking, gardening, alternative health
- Fabric arts, especially quilting
- Science, nature, space exploration
- Computers and Software
- Languages
- Role-playing games, graphic novels, English manga
- Eastern religions, esoteric arts, metaphysics, the occult
How about fiction?
We have over 12,000 fiction titles in trade editions. In addition we carry an extensive offering of mass-market paperbacks - over 50,000 fiction and 15,000 non-fiction books.
What about calendars?
We have the largest selection of calendars in the Bay area and we carry them all year long in both stores. Each year we carry over 1000 different titles. They are always discounted at least 50%. We also have calendars from earlier years that sell very inexpensively. Their pictures are great for art, craft, framing and classroom use.
How do I get to your store?
Click here for directions to our Mountain View and Monterey stores.
Is BookBuyers a chain store?
BookBuyers is a "mom and pop" business that was started in 1990 in Palo Alto by two of the current partners. We have two locations, Mountain View and Monterey, as well as a large selection of items we sell through BookBuyers Online.
Is the store owned by any organization?
BookBuyers is owned by two couples who manage the store. For several years in the 1990’s it was affiliated with the owners of East-West Bookshop.
Can you put books on hold?
Yes, we are happy to hold any of our items for you for up to 2 days. They will be held behind the front counter. After the hold expires, the items will be put back on the shelf.
Can we order books? Can we have you call us when a book comes in?
We are able to offer only those books we have in stock at the moment. Our stock changes significantly (by several thousand) each week as we process new books from buying and trading. We encourage you to come into our stores frequently to check our stock.
Do you offer a return policy?
If a you receive a defective product from us, we are happy to offer store credit for its return. We do not offer refunds for any other reason. We do not offer cash refunds for any reason. You are welcome to put items on hold if you need additional time or information before making a purchase. You are welcome to preview any used music tapes and CDs before purchase, when shopping in the store.
Do you have a mailing list? How often do you offer mailings?
We do have a mailing list. We send out one or two mailings a year for special discounts or sales. We never give out our mailing list. Sign up on our mailing list here:
BUYING AND TRADING
What is book trading?
We offer a dollar value in store credit in exchange for your books, movies, CDs and software that we can sell. You may use that credit to purchase items from the store. For more information about our trading policies for both our stores, please review our guidelines here:
Do you buy books for cash?
We can offer store credit for any items we can use. Cash is a more limited part of our purchasing. We offer cash for a limited selection of items, primarily authors, titles and subjects that are in high demand by our customers and that have limited availability. Condition is also important. We also offer a “both” option in which we select all the items we can use, making a cash offer for what we can, and a trade credit offer for the remainder. Please review our guidelines here:
Is there any difference in the value if I request cash or trade?
If we are able to pay cash for something, we will offer twice that amount in General Trade for most items and 50% more in CD Trade for CD’s, DVD’s & console games. Please review our guidelines here:
What's the difference between General Trade and CD Trade?
We give General Trade for most items that customers bring us for trade, which you can use in our stores for almost everything, with some exceptions. CD Trade is trade credit we give for CDs, DVDs and Console Games, and has no restrictions on use. We keep two separate accounts on record for both kinds of trade that you have.
What are the best containers for bringing books in?
Books can be very heavy. People bring us books in all kinds of containers, but in order for us to process your order efficiently, and to protect your books and media, we recommend using either paper or plastic bags with handles, or office storage boxes. UHall or moving boxes also work, if they are smaller size. Large plastic garbage bags do not work well, as they will rip and the books in them will get damaged. Luggage is also not recommended. Another good rule is that if you can't lift the box without strain, then we won't want to have to lift it either. Please review our guidelines here:
ONLINE STORE
Are the books online the same as the ones in your store?
No, the books listed on our Online Store are different than stock in our stores. We do not have our store stocks currently listed or databased.
Can you ship books from your stores?
Yes. We charge a handling fee of $5.00 per shipment., plus the actual shipping cost. Books purchased at or through the retail stores will be shipped within one week of purchase from BookBuyers Online.
Can customers visit your online store in person?
For various reasons, we cannot make our online store open to the public. You are welcome to visit our store online, and if you have questions about any item, you are welcome to call the online store for assistance.
Is your collection databased? Can you look up a specific book to see if it is in stock?
We are a great store to browse in, offering over 300,000 items. At the present time, we do not maintain a database of our collection. However, any of our knowledgeable staff can help you find the books you are looking for. Our online store is databased.
